CNET First Look

If you don't have a problem with their generic styling and the way they fit, the water-resistant Mpow Cheetahs are a relative bargain at around $35 online.

2:31 / 28 April 2014

Transcript

This is the Mpow Cheetah Stereo Bluetooth headset. This is the Mpow Cheetah Stereo Bluetooth headset.
It is a budget sports model that you can get online for around $36. It is a budget sports model that you can get online for around $36.
Yes that's right, $36, so it really is an inexpensive model straight out of China. Yes that's right, $36, so it really is an inexpensive model straight out of China.
I'm David Carnoy, and I'm looking at another bluetooth headphone. I'm David Carnoy, and I'm looking at another bluetooth headphone.
It's always interesting to try to find really good values out there, so I'm taking a look at this Mpow. It's always interesting to try to find really good values out there, so I'm taking a look at this Mpow.
It does feel a little bit cheap, it's got a lot of plastic, by the same token, it does seem sturdy enough, which is a weird combination but the build quality seems to be okay. It does feel a little bit cheap, it's got a lot of plastic, by the same token, it does seem sturdy enough, which is a weird combination but the build quality seems to be okay.
And surprisingly enough, the sound isn't too bad either. And surprisingly enough, the sound isn't too bad either.
This does sound like a lot of bluetooth headphones out there that cost a little bit more money, say $75 to $100 so it's not half bad sounding. This does sound like a lot of bluetooth headphones out there that cost a little bit more money, say $75 to $100 so it's not half bad sounding.
It's a Bluetooth 4.0 headset, supposed to have AptX for phones that support it, that's supposed to make the Bluetooth sound better, it's really hard to tell with a lot of stuff. It's a Bluetooth 4.0 headset, supposed to have AptX for phones that support it, that's supposed to make the Bluetooth sound better, it's really hard to tell with a lot of stuff.
And it also gets about five hours of battery life. And it also gets about five hours of battery life.
It's not great but obviously for workouts and stuff, it'll be fine. It's not great but obviously for workouts and stuff, it'll be fine.
It takes about two hours to charge. It takes about two hours to charge.
Really, my only serious issue with it is the fit. Really, my only serious issue with it is the fit.
It's supposed to really clamp on your head, not move around while you're doing something. It's supposed to really clamp on your head, not move around while you're doing something.
The only problem I had with it was, with the ear buds that came with it, I could not get a really secure fit. The only problem I had with it was, with the ear buds that came with it, I could not get a really secure fit.
One side kept falling out. One side kept falling out.
So what I did was, I found a little bit longer ear tip that came with another head phone and that actually worked well for me. So what I did was, I found a little bit longer ear tip that came with another head phone and that actually worked well for me.
So Mpow if you're listening to this you should really probably add another ear tip that is a little bit longer so people like me who have a little bit smaller heads can get a more secure fit. So Mpow if you're listening to this you should really probably add another ear tip that is a little bit longer so people like me who have a little bit smaller heads can get a more secure fit.
The other small issue worth mentioning, is that this does have a built in microphone so you can take cellphone calls. The other small issue worth mentioning, is that this does have a built in microphone so you can take cellphone calls.
There's a call answer end button as well as button controls on the ear piece. There's a call answer end button as well as button controls on the ear piece.
They're easily accessible. They're easily accessible.
I wouldn't say the call quality was great with this head phone, so I wouldn't count on this for being a great headset for taking calls. I wouldn't say the call quality was great with this head phone, so I wouldn't count on this for being a great headset for taking calls.
In the final analysis, what it really boils down to, is how these headphones would fit for you. In the final analysis, what it really boils down to, is how these headphones would fit for you.
If you do get a secure fit, you will actually like them a lot. If you do get a secure fit, you will actually like them a lot.
If you don't, you will not like them. If you don't, you will not like them.
I'm David Carnaway, and it's the Mpow Stereo Bluetooth Sports headset. I'm David Carnaway, and it's the Mpow Stereo Bluetooth Sports headset.
Thanks for watching. Thanks for watching.
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]
This is the Mpow Cheetah Stereo Bluetooth headset. This is the Mpow Cheetah Stereo Bluetooth headset.
It is a budget sports model that you can get online for around $36. It is a budget sports model that you can get online for around $36.
Yes that's right, $36, so it really is an inexpensive model straight out of China. Yes that's right, $36, so it really is an inexpensive model straight out of China.
I'm David Carnoy, and I'm looking at another bluetooth headphone. I'm David Carnoy, and I'm looking at another bluetooth headphone.
It's always interesting to try to find really good values out there, so I'm taking a look at this Mpow. It's always interesting to try to find really good values out there, so I'm taking a look at this Mpow.
It does feel a little bit cheap, it's got a lot of plastic, by the same token, it does seem sturdy enough, which is a weird combination but the build quality seems to be okay. It does feel a little bit cheap, it's got a lot of plastic, by the same token, it does seem sturdy enough, which is a weird combination but the build quality seems to be okay.
And surprisingly enough, the sound isn't too bad either. And surprisingly enough, the sound isn't too bad either.
This does sound like a lot of bluetooth headphones out there that cost a little bit more money, say $75 to $100 so it's not half bad sounding. This does sound like a lot of bluetooth headphones out there that cost a little bit more money, say $75 to $100 so it's not half bad sounding.
It's a Bluetooth 4.0 headset, supposed to have AptX for phones that support it, that's supposed to make the Bluetooth sound better, it's really hard to tell with a lot of stuff. It's a Bluetooth 4.0 headset, supposed to have AptX for phones that support it, that's supposed to make the Bluetooth sound better, it's really hard to tell with a lot of stuff.
And it also gets about five hours of battery life. And it also gets about five hours of battery life.
It's not great but obviously for workouts and stuff, it'll be fine. It's not great but obviously for workouts and stuff, it'll be fine.
It takes about two hours to charge. It takes about two hours to charge.
Really, my only serious issue with it is the fit. Really, my only serious issue with it is the fit.
It's supposed to really clamp on your head, not move around while you're doing something. It's supposed to really clamp on your head, not move around while you're doing something.
The only problem I had with it was, with the ear buds that came with it, I could not get a really secure fit. The only problem I had with it was, with the ear buds that came with it, I could not get a really secure fit.
One side kept falling out. One side kept falling out.
So what I did was, I found a little bit longer ear tip that came with another head phone and that actually worked well for me. So what I did was, I found a little bit longer ear tip that came with another head phone and that actually worked well for me.
So Mpow if you're listening to this you should really probably add another ear tip that is a little bit longer so people like me who have a little bit smaller heads can get a more secure fit. So Mpow if you're listening to this you should really probably add another ear tip that is a little bit longer so people like me who have a little bit smaller heads can get a more secure fit.
The other small issue worth mentioning, is that this does have a built in microphone so you can take cellphone calls. The other small issue worth mentioning, is that this does have a built in microphone so you can take cellphone calls.
There's a call answer end button as well as button controls on the ear piece. There's a call answer end button as well as button controls on the ear piece.
They're easily accessible. They're easily accessible.
I wouldn't say the call quality was great with this head phone, so I wouldn't count on this for being a great headset for taking calls. I wouldn't say the call quality was great with this head phone, so I wouldn't count on this for being a great headset for taking calls.
In the final analysis, what it really boils down to, is how these headphones would fit for you. In the final analysis, what it really boils down to, is how these headphones would fit for you.
If you do get a secure fit, you will actually like them a lot. If you do get a secure fit, you will actually like them a lot.
If you don't, you will not like them. If you don't, you will not like them.
I'm David Carnaway, and it's the Mpow Stereo Bluetooth Sports headset. I'm David Carnaway, and it's the Mpow Stereo Bluetooth Sports headset.
Thanks for watching. Thanks for watching.
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]

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